Core Courses (CORE)

Elements of Law orients students to legal research and reasoning through caselaw, statutory interpretation, and legal history, processes, and institutions. The course covers topics across many substantive areas of law, and addresses legal methodology as it arises in the legal profession.

In Problem Solving I, students work through a series of problems to practice skills that lawyers use to begin and maintain relationships with clients. The clients may be individuals, corporations or government. Working with practicing lawyers and law school faculty, students interview a client to determine the facts of the case and to understand the client's goals. Students work collaboratively to discover the relevant law, to assess the client's options and to communicate the legal strategy to the client. Students also observe an actual legal proceeding.

The Problem Solving II course is designed to teach students to think, write, and speak like lawyers. Students learn to solve clients' problems by using effective research techniques, accurate and in-depth legal analysis, and clear and concise written and oral communication. Students will learn essential skills of successful lawyers, including researching legal authorities, applying the law to a client's situation, and communication that analysis in writing and verbally. The focus of Problem Solving II is on objective analysis and writing. Students learn to draft the primary tool for communicating objective analysis, which is the office memorandum.

Problem Solving III builds on the skills learned in Problem Solving I & II. Problem Solving III focuses on persuasive writing. Students learn to draft documents that are submitted to a court called "briefs" or "memoranda of law." Students also present an oral argument to a court. Problem Solving III continues to receive individualized feedback throuhgout the course.

This course will introduce students to the contexts in which lawyers work. Students will be exposed to the transnational and international principles that are a mainstay of the practice of law in the 21st century. They will also learn more about the diverse practice settings and substantive areas in which they may choose to use their law degree. As a result, students will be able to make more informed choices about elective courses and better position themselves for success in the job market.

This course will focus on the additional skills that a student will need, beyond substantive legal knowledge, in order to be an effective and valued lawyer. Drawing upon some of the latest research as well as input from our prominent alumni, the course will introduce students to the extra-legal competencies that are needed to succeed in a competitive marketplace, including teamwork skills, project management, cultural competency, and familiarity with certain basic business concepts.

This course systematically introduces the analytical protocols for the three primary elements of law utilized by lawyers in arguing on behalf of their clients: case precedents, codes/statutes and facts.